RATNAPURA (i.e. "The City of Gems"), the chief town in the province of Sabaragamuwa, Ceylon. It is the centre of a long established industry in digging for precious stones—rubies, sapphires, cat's-eyes, &c. There is also much rice and fruit cultivation and planting of tea in the district. Pop. of town (1901) 4084; of district 132,964.